Interesting
So this is the fabled Atlantis, Mark Lorne thought to himself as he waited in the control room.
He was pretty impressed.
There hadn't really been time to take a good look around in the flurry of activity following their arrival here. The Wraith attack and subsequent fight for the city had meant there hadn't been much time to simply stand and appreciate the workings of the city of the Ancients.
Around the control room, technicians were working on various consoles, labouring at computers to try to get the city's systems back in full working order. The new ZPM provided energy to the city, but it seemed that the configurations had to be made manually.
Mark knew enough to keep well out of it.
In the meantime, he was waiting for Major Sheppard to introduce him to some of the city's inhabitants - chiefly the two others who'd be minding the city with Mark in the absence of Sheppard, Weir, and McKay, all of whom were being recalled to Earth for some serious planning meetings in the SGC.
He figured it would probably be a couple of geeks - the expedition was rather more civilian research than military - and just hoped he'd be able to deal with them.
"Goddamn," breathed Lieutenant Dirk Bentley. "Who the hell is that?"
Mark had more sense than to show his appreciation of the woman; for starters, she was in the company of Sheppard and someone he obviously trusted. Then there was the way she moved: a dancer's lithe grace - or a fighter's. She was dressed in fatigue-like clothing, but her top wasn't anything Mark had ever seen in women's clothing shops.
And she was definitely a looker.
Still, Mark had enough experience of other cultures not to be turned by a pretty face. Assuming that Sheppard was half the military commander Dr. Weir thought he was, Mark figured the woman had more going for her than looks.
Sheppard and the woman climbed up the last few stairs, reaching the control room where the two men waited. "Major, you wanted to meet the other two people who'll be working with you in Atlantis while Weir, McKay and I are back on Earth. Rodney's fetching Radek now, but I want you to meet Teyla. Teyla Emmagen of the Athosians, meet Major Mark Lorne, United States Air Force."
Mark met dark, tip-tilted eyes that measured him with disconcerting clarity, and was surprised by the jolt of basic attraction that earthed itself somewhere in his gut. Definitely not just a pretty face.
Experience with other cultures in the Milky Way had taught him not to hold out his hand, so instead, he just nodded at her, hoping his shock was hidden. "Ma'am."
The incline of her head had something of a queen's regal acknowledgement. "Major."
Dirk stuttered his way through an introduction, and Mark kept his expression bland. Sheppard's amusement suggested the reaction to Ms. Emmagen was a common one, and Teyla's graciousness towards Dirk showed her to be sensible about guys losing their heads over her.
"So, Lieutenant Bentley," Sheppard took a little of the pressure off Dirk, "what do you think of Atlantis?"
Dirk managed to get an answer out, while Mark surreptitiously studied Ms. Emmagen. She caught his look and smiled briefly, not particularly encouraging, but not uncomfortable either.
When Sheppard turned to him, Mark had a glib, suitable answer ready and delivered it.
But as he and Dirk followed Sheppard and Teyla to the briefing room, Mark reflected that fabled Atlantis had just gotten a lot more interesting.
- fin -
